UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Sheaths closed to the top, glabrous to pubescent;

ligules 3-9 mm. long, truncate to obtuse, closed in front until split;

blades flat, lax, 5-10 mm. broad, with prominent, wide-spaced nerves.

Inflorescence an open panicle 12-30 cm. long, the branches solitary, distant, drooping, bearing a few spikelets above mid-length;

spikelets loosely 4- to 6-flowered;

rachilla joints about 3 mm. long;

glumes narrow, the first 5-6 mm. long, apparently 1-nerved, the second 8-9 mm. long, distinctly 3-nerved;

lemmas strongly 7-nerved, about 10 mm. long, bifid at the apex for about 1 mm. with an awn 4-7 mm. long from between the teeth;

paleas 2/3 as long as the lemmas;

spikelets with 2-several perfect flowers, but the upper 2-4 flowers sterile, forming a spindle-like body about 5 mm. long.